It’s been hot. Incredibly. STILL SUMMER. 🙂 I bought a watermelon a few days ago, and in my mom’s words, I thought today – “did your eyes get bigger than your tummy?” Sometimes I go on a spree, remembering all the goofy-wonderful maxims our mom would say. “You girls would forget your heads if they weren’t…

Every once in a while I have to throw a party. And go all out. Everybody dropped by that were in the neighborhood. You may remember — salivating — along with my friends when you saw this rose tea infused deglet noor date chocolate fudge in a post awhile back. And after a cup or two…

Creepy… or reason to cheer, if you’re a gardener. Word Press Photo Challenge “Creepy” From September 18, 2012, Praying Mantis Encounter… “But, back to my tale at hand. I was out in the sun, sipping cider, picking green beans, when literally, I almost picked a praying mantis! Blending in with the surroundings, until I looked…

Good morning from my porch in Paonia … there’s just a bit of a chill. Sit and face the sun, breathe in birdsong, and train whistle. Coffee. I can imagine the winter squash ripening … not in my garden this year, but just like this photo from the 2012 patch. I have to say, growing squash gives…

It’s been happening for awhile now, but the full on onslaught, the riot of spring still feels a little surreal. Happening long enough that daffodils have bllossomed and have had time to dry. Still beautiful, as I see them. It’s my first spring living in this funky old house in the country – the North…

If you’ve been following along on my winding path of food and beauty and Pachamama for awhile, you know I love to take photographs. I meandered slowly through countless images of my days outside in the garden and on this earth, and decided last month to have some printed up as cards. Today I’ve been…

So simple, so delicious. Variations – all with scrumptious kale, have been my “first breakfast” for several weeks. “Second breakfasts” are usually local eggs and potatoes, or home-made cornbread and honey, or, whim of the moment…. When I started out my green smoothie routine I was using kale still available from the garden – a sweet mix…

Big smile. The first potatoes of the season are here! I decided to cheer up and dig a little. The hail storm I wrote about a few weeks ago TRULY pummeled the potato plants, their big dark leaves ripped and stems scarred all over. Five of them continued to wither, then finally dried up. I…

Thai green curry is an ongoing passion of mine. The herb-iness, the spice, the HOT, the coconut…… And, when I started to think about it, how perfect it is for outdoor summer eating adventures. Picnics. Instead of pesto in a salad. We grew a ton of basil last year as well as mint, and I…

Hail yeah? There was a whopper of a storm today. “A TERRIFIC storm,” some might say. Heads nearly rolled! Tattered tomato plants, the potatoes even worse. Battered squash. Shredded corn leaves. Some carnage. Matter of factly, Pachamama served up a sumptuous bowl of hail soup, as the garden reeked of decimated dill and mint and onion….

I’ve been headfirst, head over heels, diving, diving into flowers. Sometimes, beautiful food-for-thought, or maybe more accurately food-for-the-heart is so delicious I forget about what’s for dinner. Like today. I am totally engulfed by their beauty! and diving in…completely… immersed and saturated, floating in light and color.

Do you love fresh peas as much as I do? Maybe it’s their sweet flavor, or their ability to grow all cozied up, side by side in their beautiful pods… all I can say, in excitement of the new growing season is Bring them on! I’m testing out recipes now, (with frozen peas – still…

Pachamama’s Beautiful Food ~ Cooking with the Elements

Margaret Gilfoyle trained and received initiations from indigenous healers of Peru, Brazil and Ecuador during the last decade - her first introduction to the presence of PACHAMAMA, Mother Earth to the Quechuan speaking people of South America. “Their traditions and beliefs in the Feminine Spirit which lived within the Earth itself rang true and deep within me.”

Pachamama and the Creator offer their gifts freely and abundantly within the intricate, infinitely beautiful web of life. In gratefulness of receiving these, we can learn more fully the joy of giving reciprocally what we have to offer in return. We honor Pachamama as we assist nature and people in respectful, sustainable ways. Cooking with love and the intention of bringing energy of peaceful joy as meals are prepared makes even the simplest cuisine and dishes very special to friends and family sitting down at your table, and assists the Earth's energy to resonate with more love, your love.